Envelope



C. G. HEATH ENVELOPE May 19, 1925.

' Filed May 12, 1922 Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES G. HEATH, C'F HART, MICHIGAN.

ENVELOPE.

Application filed May 12, 1922. Serial No. 560,401.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be 1t known that I, CHARLES Gr. HEATH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

Hart, in the county of Oceana and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelopes, and more particularly to an envelope provided with sealing means which will prevent unauthorized opening of the same. v p

An object of the invention is the provision of an envelope in which a positive seal is assured which will prevent opening the envelope without detection.

A further object is the provision of an envelope having a sealing tongue which is provided with perforations, adapted to tear when an attempt is made to break the seal.

A further object is the provision of an envelope having a reenforcing member arranged therein, provided with a tongue passing through slots in the body of the envelope.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the envelope in closed position,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the parts of the envelope disassembled,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the envelope being closed, and,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sealing tool. 7

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the front of the envelope which, as shown, may be rectangular, or may be any other desired shape. The back of the envelope is formed of flaps in the usual manner, extending from the front 1. As shown, the envelope is provided with oppositely disposed side flaps 2, a bottom flap 3, and a top flap 4-. The side flaps are provided with slots 5 which are adapted to register with each other when in folded position. They are further provided with adhesive 6 arranged adjacent the outer edges of the flaps and extending upwardly to the slots. One of the fiaps'is provided with an adhesive ortion 7 extending inwardly above the s ot to the inner edge of the flap. The top flap is provided with a pair of slots 8 and 9. When in folded position, the slot 8 is arranged beneath the slot 9, or a greater distance from the top of the envelope, and will therefore be referred to as the lower slot. This lower slot is adapted to register with the slots 5 when the envelope is folded. 'As shown, the top flap is provided with an adhesive strip 10 extending around its edges.

A sealing tongue 11 extends outwardly from the lower flap and this tongue is provided with an outer series of perforations 12 arranged diagonally as shown, and an inner series of transverse perforations 13. The tongue is adapted to be folded adjacent its end, as indicated at 14. As shown, the surface of the tongue is provided with adhesive from the fold 14; to its inner end.

An inner reenforcing member 15 is provided which is substantially equal in size to the size of the envelope. The reenforcing memberis provided with an extension 16, adapted to be folded over the body portion and secured thereto by adhesive. This extension is provided with a tongue 17 at its outer end which, as shown, is provided with a layer of adhesive. A layer of adhesive 18 is arranged at the lower end of the extension. The body portion of the reenforcement is provided with an upper flap 19, having its surface coated with adhesive and with side flaps 20 also having adhesively coated surfaces.

A sealing tool 21 may be employed for inserting the sealing tongue 11. In Figure 5' of the drawings, I have shown a sealing tool 22 having an enlarged lower end 23, and a curled upper end 24:, forming a handle.

The method of sealing the envelope is as follows:

The bottom flap 3 is first folded in position and the side flap 2 shown at the top in Figure 3 of the drawings, is then folded over the bottom flap and the tongue 11inserted through the slot 5. The adhesive 6 at the edge of the flap 2 is moistened and the flap secured in position. The other side flap 2 is then folded over and the ten no 11 inserted through this slot 5. This flap is then secured in position by moistening the adhesive strips 6 and 7. The envelope is then assembled in the ordinary manner with all of the flaps closed except the top flap and with the tongue 11 projecting from the slots 5. The reenforcing member is placed in the envelope before assembly and when the flaps 2 and 3 are folded over, the

adhesive. portions 18, 19, and engage the inner surfaces of these flaps to secure the reenforcing member in position. The contents of the envelope are then placed in it between the front andthe reenforoing menn her and the envelope is ready tobe closed. When the reenforcing member is properly placed in the envelope and the top flap 4 folded, the tongue 17 of' the reentorcing member is in properposition to pass through the upperslotO. After it has been passed through the upper slot, its surface .is'moistened and it is then passed.throughthelower .slo-t andsecured in position. Thesealing tongue 11 is then moistened and the sealing tool inserted in the folded portion at the end. Asbet'o-re stated, the lower slot 8 registers with the slots 5 and when the top flap is foldedover, the sealing-tongue is first passed through thisslot. After being moistened, it is" inserted in the upper slot 9 and forced downwardlybythe-sealing tool.

When the envelope is opened by the per son to whom it is addressed oranauthorized agent or representative, theuflap is eut adjacent the point where it is connected to the top edge in theusual manner. Any attempt, however, to open theenvelope without destroying it as an attempt of an unauthorized person to open theenvelope and thenreseal it is prevented by the construction described. "The sealing ton'gue,.being secured on the inside of the envelope cannot be loosened by steaming or other similar methods andany attempt to disengage the tongue will cause it to I severat "the -pe-rto-rations 12% or at the perforations 12 which are arranged within the envelope when it is closed. The envelope is very useful in transporting valuable papers and similar matter. r

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be takenas a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,.size and arrangement ofpartsnray be resorted to without departing fromJ-the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. Ail-envelope comprising a blank having side flaps, top and bottom flaps extending therefrom, the bottom flap being provided with a sealing tongue, the side flaps being provided with slots adapted to register when in folded-position,thetop flap being provided with a pair of slots, -'Ol1(1 of which is adapted to register with said first mentioned-slots.when the top is elosed, sai (l tongue being adapted to vbe passed outward- :ly through said registering slots and then into the envelope through the other slot, the tongue beingi providedwith. transverse- 1y extending rows of perforations, and an inner reenforcing member. adapted to be-arranged in said envelope, said inner reenforcing. member, being provided with a tongue adapted to extend outwardly through one of said .slots.

2. An envelope comprising a' blankhaving-side flaps, top and-bottom flaps extendingatherefrom, the bottom'fiap being provided withaxsealing tongue, the side flaps being provided with slots adapted to register when:in folded position, the top flap being. provided with a pair of slots, one of which is-adapted to register with said first mentioned slots when the top is closed,

- said tongue being adapted to be passed out- 

